April showers, blah blah blah. Ditch the umbrella and grab your sunglasses to kickoff the spring season with a trip out west. California is a bright and sunny place, and this assortment of travel deals there will set the mood for your easy-going West Coast adventure. Plus, if you missed out on booking a getaway to Los Angeles, San Diego, or up north to San Francisco earlier this month, here's your second chance!
Grab your carryon and make sure you've got flip flops packed when you arrive in SoCal after your flight with American Airlines. Roundtrip flights to Los Angeles are under $140 (from $137.60, a low by $32; expires April 1), which means you can totally afford to "window shop" on Rodeo Drive.
If peeking in boutiques isn't your cup of tea, you'll definitely want to settle in close to the magic at Disneyland in Fullerton, CA with a 2-night stay at the Howard Johnson Inn Hotel and Conference Center (from $118, a low by $15; expires March 31). The HoJo offers complimentary breakfast, parking, and shuttle service to and from Disney parks. You'll be transported back to your childhood before you know it!
If you're feeling adventurous and comfortable not knowing the exact hotel you'll be shacking up at before you reserve your stay in L.A., you can score a last-minute downtown Los Angeles 4-star hotel from $105 per night (expires April 30). Based on this secret hotel's rating and location, this option is roughly $85 less than comparable hotels in the area!
For a relaxing California visit filled with trips to the best beaches, consider making the Ramada Inn and Suites Costa Mesa/Newport Beach your home base (from $64, a low by $25; expires April 5). South of LA but central Disneyland, the nearby Newport Harbor, and Newport Beach (plus surf-tastic Balboa Peninsula and beachside amusement park Balboa Fun Zone), this hotel is great for families and friends alike.
After you've visited The Getty and walked Venice Beach, why not head south a few hours and visit San Diego's Balboa Park, the famous San Diego Zoo, and the historic Gaslamp Quarter. The picturesque Coronado beach can't be missed either. In fact, nightly stays at the Best Western Yacht Harbor Hotel are worth every penny (from $67.20, a low by $20, expires March 31). The hotel offers views of the San Diego harbor and comes bundled with breakfast, complimentary airport shuttle service, in-room Wifi, and free parking.
A stone's throw away on the main land is San Diego's Little Italy. Enjoy the sights and smells of these citi blocks with a stay at the Porto Vista Hotel (from $67, a low by $16; expires April 1). The boutique hotel offers stunning bay views, Italian 60s flair, floor to ceiling artwork, and in-room Wifi, not to mention complimentary rooftop yoga on Sunday mornings. Fill up at the area's Italian eateries with goodies such as handmade gelato and authentic pizza.
If Southern California is too laid back for you, then you just might love San Francisco and the little towns that dot the coastline north of Los Angeles. Located along the Central California coast about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Pismo Beach is equal parts sand, sun, and pinot noir. Enjoy nightly stays on top of a bluff at the SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel (from $81, a low by $37; expires April 5) with complimentary breakfast, not to mention panoramic views of sand dunes and cliffs. Ah, relaxing sophistication!
Speaking of Pinot Noir, Napa and Sonoma may be notable names in California wine, but Bodega Bay also has its merits. The luxurious surroundings of Sonoma Costa Village & Spa are breathtaking. A 2-night stay here (from $339, a low by $151; expires April 3) means peace and quiet on a 60-acre pasture, private dinner, wine tasting, chocolate covered strawberries and an optional couples massage.
If there's one sight visitors to California must see, it's the Golden Gate Bridge. Do so on your way back from Bodega Bay by stopping in Saulsilito at the vista point that overlooks both the bridge and San Francisco proper. Then head in to the heart of the city and take in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Fisherman's Wharf. Stay in the historic part of downtown at the landmark Renoir Hotel for three nights (between April 1 to April 10, and April 22 to April 26) and you'll enjoy the storied hotel's turn-of-the-century charm along with modern amenities for a steal (from $292.50, a low by $112; expires April 7). The package comes bundled with free daily breakfast, and a $50 American Express Gift Card, to boot.
Get a better sense of San Francisco's diversity with a stay at the Cova Hotel in San Francisco’s Little Saigon, a two-block corridor situated within the Tenderloin (from $98, a low by $57; expires April 5). The neighborhood is the place to go for authentic Vietnamese food, not to mention blocks away from shopping in Union Square. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast on the top floor and complimentary shuttle service to Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, and Moscone Center, so you'll find it easy to check the sights off your list, too.
Or, find luxurious solace amid the bustling Market Street with a 2-night stay at the Hotel Whitcomb (from $214.20, a low by $68; expires April 7). Across from the landmark Orpheum Theater, the hotel offers plenty in the way of opulence, including high cathedral ceilings, Austrian crystal chandeliers and elegant guestrooms. The package comes bundled with a $50 American Express Gift Card.
With multiple cities and attractions to visit and just the right temperatures to raise your spirits, California has something for everyone. But, if you've got different ideas for a vacation, be sure to check out our daily travel deals for other airfare, hotel, and vacation packages.
At the time of publication, these travel deals offered the lowest prices we could find. Deals may include blackout dates, additional taxes, and fees. Some of our prices may be based on mandatory double occupancy.
Front page photo credit: Golden Coast
Photo credits top to bottom: Golden Coast and Blog of San Diego
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